title: Test-specific control conditions for functional analyses.
abstract: Most functional analyses of problem behavior include a common condition (play or noncontingent reinforcement) as a control for both positive and negative reinforcement. However, test-specific conditions that control for each potential source of reinforcement may be beneficial occasionally. We compared responding during alone, ignore, play, and differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) control conditions for individuals whose problem behavior was maintained by positive or negative reinforcement. Results showed that all of the conditions were effective controls for problem behavior maintained by positive reinforcement; however, the DRO condition was consistently ineffective as a control for problem behavior maintained by negative reinforcement. Implications for the design of functional analyses and future research are discussed.
authors.affiliation: CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE.
authors.forename: Tara A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Fahmie
authors.forename: Brian A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.forename: Angie C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Querim
authors.forename: Jill M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Harper
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: control conditions; functional analysis; pairwise design